If you had to pick one person that has thrived since Maurizio Sarri has arrived at Stamford Bridge you'd immediately been drawn to David Luiz.

The 31-year-old looked like he may well be on the scrapheap under former boss Antonio Conte, with the defender and the old manager clearly not seeing eye-to-eye which resulted in the Brazilian seeing less and less game time under him.

Before the opening day of the season and the win against Huddersfield, David Luiz had only made two league appearances since October, but fast forward to today and the centre back has made 18 appearances in all competitions, become the first man this season to score a winner against Manchester City and has transformed into a vital cog in the Sarri-ball era at the Bridge.

There were doubts at the start of the season as to whether David Luiz could adapt to playing in a back four once more and whether he and Antonio Rudiger had the ability to form a partnership as part of a two-man central defensive unit in Sarri's defence.

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And apart from a blip in the 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, the Brazilian is erasing those doubts game by game with colossal performances in the machine that is Sarri's Chelsea.

Saturday's victory over City was the height of what David Luiz has become this season.

Out of everybody at Chelsea, with Jorginho excluded, he is the man that seems to have gotten on board with Sarri's new tactics the quickest and that has seen him thrive under his new Italian boss.

(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

In the past he's said he is 'in love' with that style and it certainly seems to be a blossoming romance, but one that is in danger of petering out as a result of his contract situation at the club.

Chelsea only offer players aged over 30 12-month extensions, and with David Luiz' running out at the end of the season he would be free to talk to other foreign clubs and sign a pre-contract agreement from January 1.

Sarri is desperate to keep hold of him past his current contract and it's clear to see why - David Luiz has taken to Sarri-ball like a duck to water and the performance on Sunday was the proof.

(Image: AP Photo/Tim Ireland)

It's rare that a player takes to new tactics, especially tactics like Sarri's where you essentially have to relearn a position, so easily and it has helped the Italian build a foundation at Chelsea quicker than he and most others expected he would.

The Brazilian is nowhere near the complete player, he's still suspect to the odd mistake but his ability with the ball at his feet to put a pass out and set Chelsea up on the counter-attack is something that is so vital to Sarri's tactics.

Andreas Christensen will consider himself unlucky not to be starting in the squad, but David Luiz showed against City exactly why it is him next to Rudiger and not the Dane when his 60-yard pass turned defence into attack with one ball, with N'Golo Kante ending the move by sticking the ball into the back of the net.

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It's obvious that David Luiz wants to stay at Chelsea - his love affair with the club is well known having signed for them once more from Paris Saint-Germain in 2016 and to me it seems to have been taken to the next step with Sarri, a man that he clearly enjoys playing under.

But like most things in football, this is a complicated situation and it's the club's over 30 policy that is causing the problems.

David Luiz wants longer than the 12-month extension at Chelsea and he and his representatives know full well he would be able to negotiate that elsewhere on the continent.

(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

However, he has also made it clear he wants to remain at the Bridge, saying after the win over over City: “I am just trying to enjoy myself, like I do every single day, then, for sure, we will do the best thing for me, for Chelsea, for everybody.

"We are still talking, let’s see. Let’s see what the future brings. I love this club, everybody knows I want to stay.”

It would be a blot on what looks likely to be a good start under the new manager and one that the club can easily steer clear of by breaking with the policy and keeping their manager and their centre back happy.